In 2016, MSF provided 1.96 million outpatient consultations in DRC, its largest program based on services delivered. Teams responded to disease outbreaks, violence, and needs arising from massive displacement. MSF supported the Ministry of Health in a major emergency response to the outbreak of yellow fever, vaccinating more than a million people in Kinshasa and Matadi city. MSF’s Pool d’Urgence Congo responded to 26 emergencies relating to cholera, measles, typhoid fever, and displaced people, reaching 330,000 people across the country.

In North Kivu, MSF hospitals admitted nearly 35,000 children suffering from malnutrition and/or other diseases; over 270,000 outpatient consultations were provided in the Mweso area alone, and more than 7,500 surgical interventions were performed in Rutshuru Hospital.

MSF supported five health facilities in Goma offering screening and treatment for HIV/AIDS; the team provided care for over 2,600 affected patients. In South Kivu, MSF carried out over 284,000 outpatient consultations, admitted 10,800 people to hospitals, treated more than 10,700 malnourished children, and assisted more than 10,000 deliveries. A surge of malaria cases pushed the MSF-supported hospital in Baraka to its limits. A 100-bed facility built by MSF was in full use, and more community-based sites were set up to treat 200,000 children for malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. Staff carried out over 450,000 outpatient consultations and admitted more than 17,000 patients to the hospital. MSF teams continued to support health centers in Lulimba, Misisi, and Lubondja, opening additional community-based sites and carrying out nearly 200,000 outpatient consultations.

In early 2016, MSF opened a project to assist victims of sexual violence in Mambasa Region. Teams provided care for over 1,100 victims of violence and treated 11,900 for sexually transmitted infections in nine MSF-supported health centers. MSF teams in Boga and Gety regional hospitals and health centers treated 3,300 patients in emergency rooms and intensive care units and over 280 victims of sexual violence. More than 600 deliveries were assisted in Boga, and over 2,200 children were admitted to the pediatric ward in Gety Hospital. In Haut-Uélé teams treated more than 84,000 patients for malaria during an outbreak between May and August.

MSF teams supported two hospitals and several health centers in Manono and Kabalo during a nutrition emergency. More than 6,000 children suffering mainly from malnutrition and malaria were admitted to the pediatric unit. In Nyunzu, MSF responded to a measles outbreak and vaccinated around 90,000 children. MSF’s project in Bili and Bossobolo provided 80,000 consultations for refugees from Central African Republic and host communities.

In Kinshasa, MSF provided medical and psychosocial care for people with HIV/AIDS, supported hospitals and health centers, and piloted innovative ways of managing patients. In 2016, over 2,500 patients with advanced HIV were admitted to hospital and 68,000 consultations were carried out. Toward the end of the year, MSF supported 10 health facilities to treat 160 patients who were wounded during violent protests against the president. Similar support was given to health facilities in Lubumbashi, where 35 wounded people were treated.

MSF continued efforts to find our three missing colleagues: Philippe Bundya Musongelwa, Richard Muhindo Matabishi, and Romy Ya-Dunia Ntibanyendera. They were abducted in July 2013 in the eastern town of Kamango while carrying out a health assessment.